PARMA, Ohio — Editor's note: Video at the top of this story was originally published in a previous St. Anthony of Padua update on Feb. 28, 2022.
A donation drive is being held Wednesday to help continue providing an education for students of St. Anthony of Padua elementary school after an arson fire caused approximately $1 million worth of damage last month.
The drive-thru “Stuff the Squad” donation event takes place from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. outside of UH Parma’s main entrance along 7007 Powers Boulevard. It’s being done in partnership between the Parma Fire Department and University Hospitals Parma Medical Center.
“The Parma Fire Department will have a reserve ambulance on location with volunteers from the department and leaders from UH Parma to unload donor vehicles,” according to a press release.
Here are the items needed during this donation drive for St. Anthony of Padua school:
- Hand sanitizer
- Paper towels
- Band-Aids
- Milk crates
- Disinfecting wipes
- Lysol cleaning spray
- Airwick plug-ins
- Garbage bags
- Swiffer dusters
- Carpet stain remover
- Scotch tape
- Masking tape
- Tape dispensers
- Disposable masks (adult and child)
- Small ice packs
- Organizing containers / baskets
- Kleenex
- Febreze spray
- Classroom trash cans
- Buckets / sponges
- Brooms / dustpans
- Vacuum cleaner
“The Parma community has always shown its caring and compassion in times of need,” said Fire Chief Michael Lasky. “We are confident that our residents and those in the surrounding communities will show their caring spirit once again so that we can allow these children and their teachers to resume their educational experience with a semblance of normalcy."
Authorities are currently offering a reward of $12,500 to anybody with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the arson fire.
Tips can be called in using one of the following methods:
- State Fire Marshals tip line at 800-589-2728
- Crime Stoppers Hotline at 216-252-7463
- Parma Police Detective Marc Karkan at 440-877-7322
RELATED: More than $1 million in damages reported after arson at St. Anthony of Padua School in Parma
Firefighters were first alerted to the blaze shortly before 10 a.m. Feb. 19 when a 911 call was made to report the flames inside the school building in the 6800 block of State Road.
"The call was placed by maintenance personnel who reported the fire to be in the basement of the structure and they were unable to enter the building due to the rapidly deteriorating conditions inside of the building," according to a press release from the Parma Fire Department.
Upon their arrival, firefighters reported "extremely heavy smoke conditions" from the basement and first-floor areas of the school building. Authorities say crews aggressively attacked the fire in the basement along with flames in several classrooms.